Performance of free-range 'Darag' chickens under different farming systems
2008
Anon.
The Philippine 'Darag' native chickens are predominantly raised under free-ranged management system. Hence, variability in their survival and growth rates is experienced. Aside from the ranging and foraging characteristics of chickens, the type of foraging area as well as the feed resources available and the season of their occurrence also influence the variability in their performance. Lopez, Jr (WVSU) [Western Visayas State University, Philippines] conducted a study to determine the growth performance of native chickens as affected by the different farming systems. The rice-, orchard-, coconut-, and sugarcane-based farming systems were studied during the wet and dry seasons to identify the feedstuff present during the two seasons and correlate the growth performance of chickens sustained on the naturally occurring feed resources in these farms. The naturally occurring feed resources present in each farming systems as ingested by the birds. This study was conducted from Apr 2005 to June 2006. Birds raised under sugarcane farming system during the wet and dry seasons obtained the highest live weight of 640 g and 817.50 g, respectively. The lowest live weight was obtained from the coconut-based farming system (51 g) during the wet season and the orchard-based farming system during the dry season (720 g). The mean live weight of the native chicken during the dry season was higher than during the wet season for all the farming systems. The mean weight of the feed ingesta of the birds was lower during the dry season than in the wet season. This could be due to the fact that little herbage was growing during the dry season. This study did not discuss why live weight of the native chickens was better in sugarcane-based farming system for both the dry and wet seasons. However, it provides significant information on the growth performance of 'Darag' chickens raised under different farming systems. This would provide enough awareness to stakeholders to situate Darag farming in areas where feed resources are abundant and to supplement when existing areas have limited feed resources preferred by the birds. These data could then encourage raising of native chickens and help create livelihood.
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